Kia ora, I’m Johnny — nō Ngā Ruahinerangi me Ngāti Porou.
I’m an artist based in Ōpunake, here on the West Coast under the watch of Maunga Taranaki.

Growing up, the environment that surrounded me played a big part in shaping who I am — exploring the rugged cliffs covered in harakeke along our takutai moana, feeling the sharp bite of the southerly wind, and seeing the wild beauty of our coastline. Even in its harshness, it’s a paradise — a place that grounds and inspires my mahi.

Art and our ao Māori have always drawn me in. Growing up, there wasn’t much around to learn from — just a few books on tā moko and carving in the local library — but they lit a spark that never left.

That curiosity grew stronger over time, and I began marking my own kiri, then my whānau. Years later, while working in Melbourne, I felt the call to reconnect with my taha Māori — that sense of remembering who I really was. I came home and began my reo journey with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, and reached out to kai tā that I knew of in Taranaki and a couple of other areas for guidance.

At that time, no one was taking on tauira, and most responses were similar to “he kai kei ōu ringa” — the tools and answers are already in your own hands.

A respected kai tā once told me, “Stop looking in from the outside and step into it — hikina te mānuka.” Since then, whether painting, drawing, or tā moko, my focus has been strong. Learning and growth never stop — and while I stand firmly in my mahi, I’ll always remain open to new growth, in whatever form it comes, and to those who may offer guidance or correction along the way.
This journey continues to shape me, guided by the same spark that began it.

If my mahi resonates with you, feel free to reach out — let’s kōrero